← Back to overview
This page contains machine-translated content. For safety-relevant sections, the German original text is also shown and remains authoritative.

Removing candle wax from tables (do not try this at home! Heptane)

ID: 69313  |  No.: 324  |  Institut für Chemieinformation

School experiment from Year 5 onwards

Category: Working techniques

Note: Transferring to your DEGINTU account for risk assessment and its documentation is recommended!
📄 Download as PDF
📥 Log in to transfer to DEGINTU
📝 Register at DEGINTU
Permanent archiving (DOI)

No permanent DOI has been generated for this experiment yet.

Procedure

Description of an accident involving the widespread dispersal of ethanol. Such an accident appears even more likely with n-heptane, as n-heptane has a lower flash point (−7 °C compared with 12 °C for ethanol) and a significantly lower evaporation rate (3 compared with 8.3 for ethanol). When applied over a large area, a flammable vapour-air mixture can form rapidly. Even a small ignition source, such as an electrical contact (computers, light switches) or an electrostatic discharge (textiles), can ignite this mixture and trigger a catastrophic fire or deflagration.

http://halbmikrotechnik.de/service/chemie/sicherheit/urteil1.htm

Furthermore, heptane vapours can cause chronic inflammation of the brain and nerves, which are recognised as occupational diseases. No protective occupational exposure limit has yet been established for this. BK 1317 – Polyneuropathy or encephalopathy caused by organic solvents or mixtures thereof (BK Report 1/2018): 

http://publikationen.dguv.de/dguv/udt_dguv_main.aspx?FDOCUID=26950

Description of learning environments and clusters which are available as multi-purpose spaces instead of subject-specific classrooms (page 20):

https://digital.zlb.de/viewer/api/v1/records/15879414/files/images/MUR_MJG_Schulumbau.pdf/full.pdf

Equipment & materials

Paper towels

Hazardous substances
Name Formula CAS no. H-statements P-statements Pictograms
Heptan C₇H₁₆ 142-82-5
H225 – Liquid and vapour are highly flammable.
German original: Flüssigkeit und Dampf leicht entzündbar.
H304 – May be fatal if swallowed or if it enters the airways.
German original: Kann bei Verschlucken und Eindringen in die Atemwege tödlich sein.
H315 – Causes skin irritation.
German original: Verursacht Hautreizungen.
H336 – May cause drowsiness and light-headedness.
German original: Kann Schläfrigkeit und Benommenheit verursachen.
H410 – Very toxic to aquatic organisms, with long-term effects.
German original: Sehr giftig für Wasserorganismen mit langfristiger Wirkung.
P210 – Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other sources of ignition. Do not smoke.
German original: Von Hitze, heißen Oberflächen, Funken, offenen Flammen und anderen Zündquellen fernhalten. Nicht rauchen.
P233 – Keep the container tightly closed.
German original: Behälter dicht verschlossen halten.
P273 – Prevent release into the environment.
German original: Freisetzung in die Umwelt vermeiden.
P331 – Do NOT induce vomiting.
German original: KEIN Erbrechen herbeiführen.
P301+P310 – IF SWALLOWED: Call the POISON INFORMATION CENTRE / a doctor ... immediately.
German original: BEI VERSCHLUCKEN: Sofort GIFTINFOMATIONSZENTRUM / Arzt ... anrufen.
P303+P361+P353 – IF IN CONTACT WITH THE SKIN (or hair): Remove all contaminated clothing immediately. Wash the skin with water or take a shower.
German original: BEI BERÜHRUNG MIT DER HAUT (oder dem Haar):Alle kontaminierten Kleidungsstücke sofort ausziehen. Haut mit Wasser abwaschen/duschen.
GHS02, GHS07, GHS08, GHS09

H/P statements: machine translation, with the German original below (authoritative). Name, formula, CAS no. and pictograms are not translated.

Personal protective equipment
  • Safety goggles must be worn.
    German original
    Eine Gestellschutzbrille ist zu tragen.
  • Disposable nitrile gloves are used as splash protection.
    German original
    Als Spritzschutz dienen Nitril-Einmalhandschuhe.
⚠ Hazards
  • through eye contact
    German original
    durch Augenkontakt
  • Fire hazard
    German original
    Brandgefahr
  • Risk of explosion
    German original
    Explosionsgefahr
⚠ Further hazards and notes
  • Start-up fires
    Fight small fires with a fire extinguisher. Pupils should keep a safe distance. If the fire cannot be extinguished immediately, leave the room without delay and alert the fire brigade and the school management. Fight fires involving people immediately using a hand-held hose or, if necessary, a fire extinguisher – every second counts!
    German original
    Entstehungsbrände mit Feuerlöscher bekämpfen. Schülerinnen und Schüler halten sicheren Abstand. Können diese nicht sofort gelöscht werden, Raum unverzüglich verlassen und Feuerwehr sowie Schulleitung alarmieren. Personenbrände mit Handbrause oder ggf. Feuerlöscher unverzüglich bekämpfen, hier zählt jede Sekunde!
  • Major leaks
    In the event of an accident, leave the room immediately and alert the fire brigade (telephone 112) and the school management; small leaks can be mopped up using chemical absorbent, but suitable personal protective equipment must be worn; pupils must keep a safe distance.
    German original
    Im Havariefall Raum unverzüglich verlassen und Feuerwehr (Telefon 112) sowie Schulleitung alarmieren, kleine Leckagen können mit Chemikalienbinder aufgenommen werden, hierbei ist geeigneter Selbstschutz erforderlich, Schülerinnen und Schüler halten sicheren Abstand.
Substitution Substitution 1
The substitution of hazardous substances, as well as their forms of use and methods of application, has been assessed. This experiment is essential for teaching key learning content and can be carried out provided that the restrictions set out in the experiment instructions are observed and the protective measures specified therein are followed.
There are no known hazardous properties of the substances or other risks that would, in principle, preclude the experiment from being carried out by pupils or teachers. The list of substances in DGUV Information 213-098 at degintu.dguv.de has been taken into account.

The substitution assessment is flawed because
: - cleaning work can be carried out without the use of hazardous substances;
- as a general rule, highly volatile or highly flammable hazardous substances should not be handled in buildings outside of specialist rooms
designed for that purpose; and
- as a general rule, ventilation is insufficient for the open handling of highly volatile or highly flammable hazardous substances if
it is carried out in accordance with the 20/5/20 rule or, as shown in the symbol, is to take place via a window that is merely ajar.

Suitable specialist rooms must comply with the requirements set out in the statement by the GDCh’s Chemistry Education Section:

https://www.gdch.de/fileadmin/downloads/Netzwerk_und_Strukturen/Fachgruppen/Chemieunterricht/PDF/Stellungnahme_FGCU_Fachra__ume_2018.pdf